Crybaby

Illustrator: Eugene Yelchin

In a quiet house

on a quiet street

a not-so-quiet baby cried…

W-A-A-A-A!

So begins this raucous read-aloud about a family who tries everything imaginable to help Baby stop crying. Children will love chanting along with this rhyming, cumulative tale as it builds in humor and frenetic energy right up to the hilarious ending.

Designed to reinforce reading readiness skills (prediction, phonemic awareness), the easy-to-memorize text is sure to delight and empower even the youngest “readers”.

Great baby shower gift or classroom addition. And a sweet and loving reminder to us all that it really does take a village to raise a child! (Preschool – 2nd grade)

Reviews

“Humorous, cumulative story that cries out to be read aloud. Every action is given a sound-effect description, usually two words, with the rhyming phrases adding up in a funny reverse list that children will enjoy repeating or acting out: P-e-e-u-u-w-w! / Peek-a-boo! / Hush, hush! / Rush, rush! A winning choice for reading aloud in story times and a fine gift for a family with a new baby, with or without a dog.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

Wild About Us!

Illustrator: Janet Stevens

Would you dare tell Flamingo
he shouldn’t be pink?
Or Potbellied Pig she’s too plump,
do you think?

Join Warty Warthog as he highlights the unique features of his zoo friends in this joyful celebration of differences. Whether it’s Elephant’s long nose, or Hippo’s wiggly, jiggly, one-of-a-kind behind, or Kangaroo’s huge feet, the animals rejoice in their own, and others’ special uniqueness. Readers of all ages will be charmed and uplifted by this group’s unwavering confidence and compassion.

A fun and inspiring message that is sure to combat bullying, and bring out the very best in all of us. (Preschool – 3rd grade)

(Don’t forget to search for the fly that is hiding on each animal!)

Reviews

“The rhythmic text and appealing layout make this a great choice for a read-aloud, and the content effortlessly prompts conversations about tolerance and self-acceptance.”

—Booklist, starred review

“Popping from animal to animal in snappy rhyming couplets, Beaumont shines in rhythmic play. Stevens, a master at animal portraiture…poses them peering directly at readers, almost as if to dare them to say anything disrespectful. Ultimately the animals conclude that they are glad for their differences. A gleeful look at self-acceptance.”

—Kirkus Reviews

“This subtle commentary about accepting who you are challenges gender stereotypes and suggests true beauty lies in how we see ourselves. A humorous rhyme that masks deep themes of self-acceptance and honoring diversity.”

Dini Dinosaur

Dirty Dini Dinosaur is covered with mud from head to toe. But when he tries to take a bath…UH-OH!

Silly Dini Dinosaur!

Don’t you know?

You have to take your SHOES off!

Back you go!

And so on, as Dini removes each article of clothing (shoes, pants, shirt, hat) and splashes in the tub. SCRUB-A-DUB-DUB! At last, his ever-so-patient Mama Dinosaur gives him one final scrub, reads him a bedtime story, then tucks him in with a hug and a kiss.

Kids will eagerly participate in the repetition of SCRUB-A-DUB-DUB, and call out the article of clothing associated with each body part: feet, legs, tummy, and head. (Preschool – 1st grade)

Reviews

“Beaumont’s buoyant, bouncy verse practically reads itself aloud, and it will not take long before young listeners fling themselves into the performance, chiming in with the “scrub-a-dub-dub!” refrain. Early literacy skills are boosted by subtle textual cues that place the key word not only in all caps but in a color that matches the article of clothing in question. Roode complements the text with big, simple pictures filled with smiles…and sudsy bubbles.”

—Kirkus Reviews

“Even youngest toddlers will guess what’s coming next in this bath time story about a baby dinosaur who neglects to take off his clothes before getting cleaned up. Beaumont’s…buoyant, nursery rhyme-style pattern (and) Roode’s cheerful digital artwork feature lots of smiles, bubbles, and hugs that work well with the book’s sweet-natured, end-of-the-day vibe.”

Where’s My T-R-U-C-K?*

And no matter what Mom, Dad, Sis, Brother, and Grandma offer, nothing is as fun as his favorite red truck. Except maybe the hunt to find it.

I don’t want jeeps or cars or planes,

or boats or bikes or trikes or trains.

I don’t want green or blue or black.

I only want my red truck back.

Please help Tommy find his truck! PLEASE! His family is begging you!

A romping, rhyming read-aloud that is sure to get kids guessing, giggling, and spelling in no time. (Preschool – 2nd grade)

*T-R-U-C-K is meant to be spelled, letter by letter, when reading the text.

Reviews

“From the very first spread…it’s clear that readers are in for a very funny encounter with a memorable personality.”

—Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Beaumont’s refrain promises that listeners will know how to spell “truck” by tale’s end and is perfectly paced for expressive pauses and exclamations. Catrow’s jam-packed pencil and watercolor scenes are masterworks of detail and humor. This is definitely a ‘read it again’ book.”

—School Library Journal

“Anyone who’s ever interacted with a young child who’s lost a favorite toy will immediately recognize this little boy and his single-mindedness in searching for his t-r-u-c-k. The rhythmic, rhyming text works well, especially out loud, as long as readers realize “t-r-u-c-k” means to spell out the word letter by letter.”

—Kirkus Reviews

“The author and illustrator team of Karen Beaumont and David Catrow do very well together depicting the messy realities of childhood. Catrow’s colorfully frenetic artwork and Beaumont’s flawlessly rhyming text will have children chanting along.”

—The New York Times

Awards & Honors

2012 Selected for inclusion in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

2011 “Best of the Best” Reading List for Kids – Chicago Public Library

No Sleep For The Sheep!

Poor Sheep wants nothing more than a good night’s sleep. But just as he dozes off in the big red barn on the farm…

There came a loud QUACK at the door, at the door,

and the sheep couldn’t sleep any more!

Then…BAA! OINK! MOO! NEIGH! Sheep’s sleep is repeatedly interrupted by one noisy intruder after another. Kids will love trying to guess who comes next, based on each animal’s silhouette on the preceding page. In the end, just as Sheep finally falls into a deep, deep sleep in the big red barn…COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO! It’s time to get up! A comedy that invites audience participation, reinforces prediction skills, and ensures youngsters will enjoy one last giggle at story time, or before being tucked into bed at night. (Preschool – 2nd grade)

Reviews

“A terrific read-aloud that will have listeners quacking, mooing, and neighing with Sheep’s friends each time they wake him up. This is sure to be a story time favorite.”

—School Library Journal, starred review

“Together, Urbanovic’s comical watercolor illustrations and Beaumont’s repetitive rhyming text manage to be both lively and soothing – the perfect combination to help energetic little ones blow off steam and settle down at bedtime.”

—The Horn Book

“Beaumont’s playful, repetitive text, with its loud animal sounds, will have children chanting along to the beat. In more intimate sharings, readers with a careful eye can spot the shadow of the next animal, along with a certain tiny, feathered friend, who just may make the loudest sound of all.”

Awards & Honors

Shoe-la-la!

Illustrator: LeUyen Pham

Party dresses, party hair…

Need new party shoes to wear.

Emily, Ashley, Kaitlyn, Claire!

Let’s go find the perfect pair!

Join the fun as these four friends step into their fantasies with each pair of shoes they try on, from cowgirl to rockstar to princess to bride, and more. After an exhilarating, but exhausting, shoe shopping extravaganza, the fashionistas return home empty-handed. What shoes will they wear to the party?

Readers are sure to delight in the girls’ resourcefulness, and their discovery that the very best shoes of all may just be the ones that come from their own imagination!

A celebration of friendship and fashion, with a great recycle theme, too! (Preschool – 2nd grade)

Reviews

“Pure fun, with a practical message, this title will appeal to the legions of Fancy Nancy fans and not sit on any shelf. The girls’ own considerable creativity saves the day. The sparkly book jacket is an irresistible draw.”

—School Library Journal

“Beaumont introduces readers to an almost infinite variety of shoes—buckled, bowed, tap, laced, rainbow-striped, leopard spotted, sandals, boots, shoes for cowgirls and rockstars. This outing, with its glitzy cover, is likely to appeal…to the creative side in every budding shoe connoisseur.”

—Kirkus Reviews

“Author Karen Beaumont displays her considerable talent for moving a story along in jaunty rhyme reminiscent of her award winning text for I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More!. It captures the ear with catchy sounds and fresh rhymes.”

Awards & Honors

Doggone Dogs!

Ten doggone dogs can’t wait to go to the park. Once there, however, they wreak havoc at the Perfect Pooch Obedience School, causing one doggone disaster after another.

COME, DOGS! SIT, DOGS! LIE DOWN! STAY!
Doggone dogs do not obey.
They turn and run the other way!

Finally, after making one too many messes, the dogs are captured by the pet patrol, and incarcerated. But they are not locked up for long. As the guard drifts off to sleep, these clever canines put some of their “tricks” to good use!

Counting these rambunctious dogs, from one to ten and back again, will keep children more than entertained from beginning to end. (Preschool – 2nd grade)

Reviews

“The succinct, rhyming text bounces along just like the runaways, numerically counting up the dogs and naming them in a fast-paced, catchy rhyme. In the crowded arena of dog stories, this one stands out from the pack.”

—Kirkus Reviews

“The frenetic, goofy-looking dogs of various sizes and breeds romping through the park are sure to bring smiles to young faces.”

Who Ate All The Cookie Dough?

When Mama Kangaroo discovers that her mixing bowl, once filled with cookie dough, is now empty, she begins her search for the culprit.

Lion, Lion, do you know?

Who ate all the cookie dough?

I don’t know. It wasn’t me.

Maybe Zebra…let’s go see!

The suspense builds as each of the animal characters is questioned. Was it Llama? Zebra? Hippo? Cheetah? Or…maybe it was Monkey!

Designed to reinforce reading readiness skills, kids will love trying to be the first to solve this mouth-watering mystery. Lift the flap at the end to find out who ate all the cookie dough. (Preschool – 1st grade)

Reviews

“Some books are just sure-fire winners for story sharing with young listeners! Who Ate All the Cookie Dough? is guaranteed to have your audience chiming in with its call-and-response patterned text and simple, bold gouache illustrations to support participation from pre-readers.”

—Elementary Book Review

“This book’s repetition and rhymes — reminiscent of the question-and-answer rhythm of Bill Martin Jr.’s Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? — make it a good choice for beginning readers and for chant-along story times.”

—School Library Journal

“A good offering for new readers looking for books to read independently…the amusing illustrations of popular animals and the jaunty rhythm and rhyme will make this a favorite.”

—Kirkus Reviews

Awards & Honors

2009 International Reading Association/Children’s Book Council Children’s Choice List

Move Over, Rover!

Poor Rover! He’s all alone in his doghouse, chewing on a bone. As clouds roll in, and the rain begins to pour…

Rover’s in the doghouse,

sleeping through the storm…

Cat is looking all around

to find a place that’s warm.

MOVE OVER, ROVER!

Raccoon, Squirrel, Blue Jay, and Snake want to be warm, too. One by one, they all squeeze into Rover’s doghouse and fall asleep, until…PEEUUWW! An uninvited guest quickly disperses the crowd. Who is it, and how did he get in? (You have to look very closely!)

Children are sure to enjoy calling out “Move over, Rover!” with each new arrival, and searching for the animal characters camouflaged on various pages. (Preschool – 2nd grade)

Reviews

“The bouncy rhymes and expressive paintings complement each other well, melding into a simple but satisfying story that will fit into story hours with themes of rain, dogs, or sharing.”

—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“The repetition of key phrases, the rhythmic text, and the cumulative structure of the narrative make this book an ideal read-aloud. Children will love the hilarious ending.”

Reviews

“With rhymes that invite audience participation and scenes that draw the eye, this is a strong story time choice. Based on the song It Ain’t Gonna Rain No More!, the rhythmic text can be read or sung with equal effectiveness.”

—School Library Journal, starred review

“I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More! stands alone in its excellence. A necessity for any library collection and a great gift for each and every little one on your shopping list. This book is a story time dream come true.”

—E.R. Bird, top 500 reviewer

“Here’s one that kids will beg for again and again and again.”

—Kirkus Reviews

“Beaumont’s text is hilarious, and is perfectly complemented by Catrow’s wild, wacky illustrations. A particularly great read-aloud.”